14 or 18 Karat Rose Gold — Why We Made a Deliberate Choice
The question sounds technical, yet it determines the colour, durability and value of your jewellery. Here is the honest comparison — and why we made a clear choice.
Karat is not a measure of quality, but of pure gold content. 24 karat would be pure gold — too soft for jewellery. To create rose gold, the gold is blended with copper and a little silver. It is precisely this ratio that separates 14 from 18 karat.
The Difference in Numbers
18 karat (750) consists of 75% pure gold. The result is a warm, rich depth of colour and a noticeably more refined weight. 14 karat (585) contains 58.5% gold; thanks to the higher proportion of added metals, it is harder, but its colour is paler and cooler.
Why We Choose 18 Karat
At Rosé. Fine Jewellery., every piece — with one deliberate exception — is made from 18 karat rose gold. This decision rests on three reasons. First, colour: only at 18 karat does rose gold reveal that warm, deep tone that makes it so unmistakable. Second, lasting value: a higher gold content means your piece preserves its material worth across generations. Third, skin tolerance: as 18 karat contains fewer added metals, it is often the gentler choice for sensitive skin.
The Deliberate Exception: The Piercing Backing
For our fine piercings, we craft the backing — the part within the piercing channel — from 14 karat. This is not a compromise but a considered choice: 14 karat is more robust in this high-stress area, making it ideal for a secure, lasting fit. The visible part, of course, remains 18 karat.
A Question of Value, Not Just Price
18 karat is more expensive to buy — but it retains its value, its colour and its beauty for longer. For us, this is not a surcharge but a promise: that a piece meant to last a lifetime is also made from the right material.